Raymond Kinzler

Raymond Kinzler, a longtime resident of Grand Forks, died on Friday March 3, 2017 at the Valley Elder Care.  He was 88 years old.  Ray Kinzler was born in Gackle, North Dakota on May 10, 1928, to John and Lydia Kinzler, on the homestead that his father farmed.  He graduated from Gackle High School and left his hometown to join the Army during the years of the Korean War.  Following his discharge from the Army as a Corporal, he settled in Fargo, North Dakota where he worked for The Globe, beginning a lifelong career in the men’s clothing business, later joining the Straus Company.  In Fargo he met and married his wife of 62 and a half years, the former Beverly Ahlert, who survives him.  He left Fargo in 1957 to move to Grand Forks where he worked for Straus at its 3rd Street location.  During this time he also attended and graduated from Aaker’s Business College.  He was proud to tell the story of how he sold Louis Armstrong handkerchiefs before a concert and could recount the shoulder width and inseam of Phil Jackson, both among the multitude of customers he serviced during his more than 50 year career.   Following his retirement from Straus, he worked for Daytons, and Marshal Fields, which later became Macy’s, where he was honored with the Highest Customer Service Achievement award for his work. An avid and longtime sports fan, he was a regular at the University of North Dakota Sioux football as well as both the men and women’s basketball games.  He also never missed a Minnesota Twins or Vikings game. Kinzler was a member of the Grand Forks Exchange Club and served on the boards of both University Lutheran and Sharon Lutheran Church. He is also survived by five children – Debra of New York, NY; Susan of Newtown, PA; Lori Kaiser and husband Ray of Minneapolis, MN; John and wife Tammy of East Grand Forks, MN and Tim of Brooklyn, NY; seven grandchildren and two great granddaughters.  In addition, his brother Rueben resides in Clinton, Iowa and Norman in Gackle, North Dakota. Memorial Services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, March 8, 2017 in Sharon Lutheran Church of Grand Forks with visitation one hour before the service in the church.  A Private Burial will be on Thursday, March 9 at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.